770 Increasing Attendance in Parent Support Groups Through Creative Engagement

Abstract Introduction Engaging parents of pediatric burn survivors in support programs enhances children’s coping and self-esteem. A parent support group for pediatric burn survivors was created to address these issues, but participation was consistently low, with an average attendance of two. To increase attendance, the format of the program was modified to target the survivor as well as parental needs. Methods The program was created for burn survivors age 3 to 17 years and their parents. The pediatric module incorporated developmentally appropriate activities to engage pediatric burn survivors and siblings in therapeutic techniques to normalize their experience and provide expressive opportunities. Parents attended a parent support group, where facilitators encouraged expression of feelings connected to their child’s burn injury and developing strategies for supporting their child through daily life. The parent portion also fostered an opportunity for them to develop their own coping skills. A trained peer support volunteer attended the program to foster peer support. A survey gauging parental perception of their child’s coping and their own coping was developed and distributed to all parents at the end of the session. Results There were 29 attendees (11 adults and 18 children). Ten surveys were completed, but one was eliminated due to user error. The results were overwhelmingly positive and validated a need for parent support (see table). Most parent participants (78%) had never attended a burn survivor support program though all had previously attended survivor-related social events. All respondents indicated they wound attend this event again. Conclusions Engaging survivors and their families in recreational-based events appears to lead to higher attendance, as all participants had previously attended social events provided by the burn program. Parents may be more inclined to attend an event that focuses on their child’s needs rather than, or in addition to, their own. Additional programs are planned with a goal of quarterly meetings. Attendance and feedback will need to be tracked to corroborate the findings of this initial experience and foster the growth of a robust parental support program. Applicability of Research to Practice Providers of parent support groups need to be creative in developing formats that increase participation. Recreational activities alone do not foster coping skills and emotional support. Activities need to be created that